FORT SCOTT — A member of Fort Scott’s Historic Preservation & Resource Commission says a percentage rule in the city’s brick street policy, discussed at the Oct. 20 City Commission meeting, does not apply to existing brick streets.

“The 30% or 35% does not apply to an existing brick street. It applies to an asphalt street that covers brick,” Martha Jane Gentry said at the commission’s Oct. 27 meeting. “There was misinformation about what the brick street policy was.” At the Oct. 20 meeting, City Manager Brad Matkin said of a water line repair, “So going with our brick policy, you know, it’s over the 30% or whatever.”

Gentry also said two downtown brick streets on the city’s nine-year street program were supposed to be done this year and won’t be, and she raised concern about heavy equipment on the bricks.

Kathy Dancer, who chairs the preservation commission, said brick streets save the city money over time. “If we didn’t have brick streets, the amount of money we’d have to be spending on maintenance would be astronomical,” she said.

City staff member Zach Ross said he has asked the state historic preservation office when it gets involved in streets. The commission meets again Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m.